Mine roof bolt system

ABSTRACT

This new system can utilize a threaded bolt head on one end of a roof bolt and an anchoring device on the other end of the bolt. The roof bolt is designed in such a manner to allow the bolt head to drive the bolt for anchoring purposes and to allow the bolt head to also serve as the attachment mechanism for ancillary appendages. This system can be utilized as the primary roof bolting system, or, as an ancillary system in conjunction with existing primary roof bolts.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/948,904 filed Mar. 6, 2014, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. This application also is a continuation in part of U.S. application Ser. No. 14/280,019, filed May 16, 2014, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/843,557, filed Jul. 8, 2013 and also claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/824,002 filed May 16, 2013 all of which are hereby incorporated by reference in there entireties.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to rock reinforcing apparatus and, more specifically, to novel rock bolt anchoring systems such as typically used in the support of mine or tunnels, and the like.

DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART Background

Typically roof bolting plans require a certain specified strength of roof bolt installed in some sort of organized pattern in the roof of a mine. Patterns are usually square or rectangular in plan view design. This invention can be utilized within that pattern as an exclusive device or as an ancillary addition to the plan.

A mine must install roof bolts according to a predefined and Government (USA or other State or Federal Government organization) approved plan. The primary purpose of the roof bolt is to secure the roof from falling by anchoring the bolt some predetermined depth into the roof. The bolt mechanism is coupled with an extended, relatively flat bearing platform (plate, grid or strap) to act in conjunction with the installed bolt for added bearing support area.

The approved roof bolting pattern can be approved, utilizing a fixed iteration of the following variation of parameters including (but not limited to):

-   -   Bolt Length     -   Bolt Diameter     -   Bolt Material     -   Bolt Strength     -   Anchoring method     -   Spacing of installed bolts

The intent of this invention is to provide mine operating personnel a roof bolt which allows for an easy cost effective solution for holding the roof whilst being easily able to add needed ancillary appendages to the bolt. The appendages range from requirements or desires to install other devices for assisting in holding the roof, to safety devices and other pieces not associated with holding the roof.

Prior Art

Typical mine roof bolt systems have been around for many years. An example of one can be seen in Yates et al U.S. Pat. No. 4,299,515. However, no appendages can be easily connected to the roof bolt system as shown in Yates et al. U.S. Pat. No. 4,299,515.

An example of a system used to attach appendages to mine roof bolts can be seen in Bernosky U.S. Pat. No. 5,474,274. Bernosky U.S. Pat. No. 5,474,274 is an add system that allows appendages to attach to the typical mine roof bolt system.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention incorporates the components of a mechanical bolt or resin bolt with the benefit of being able to utilize the head of the bolt to install mesh and other appendages after the bolt is installed. This invention also provides for a nut casting or a removable dual attachment bolt head that replaces the traditional forged bolt head. The nut casting or removable dual attachment bolt head incorporates continual or partial internal threading, allowing access from both sides. The system allows for various bolt depths of insertion and tightening of a mated threaded bolt or rib bolt, with the additional advantage of being able to insert another secondary bolt, into the nut casting or removable dual attachment bolt head at the other end (exposed part) which is utilized to hold the appendages against bolt.

This invention provides for a bolt system for use in a mine (mine includes a tunnel) to anchor a mine surface as well as anchoring appendages to the mine. The system can include a bolt, having a bolt head at one end of the bolt that allows for driving the bolt. The bolt head can also have an integral connection receptacle that is capable of receiving and anchoring an appendage connecter.

The bolt can optionally include bolt threads on an end of the bolt. The bolt head can be a removable nut having a stud extending from a side of the bolt head having threads that correspond to the bolt threads and connect with the bolt threads in such manner that the bolt locks with the bolt head so that the bolt head can be used to drive the bolt. When the word drive is used that includes spinning the bolt. The integral connection receptacle can be identified as threads located on the bolt head.

The bolt threads can be on only a portion of the end of the bolt. The bolt head can have a stud extending from the bolt head having internal threads wherein there are more internal threads in the stud than there are bolt threads. By having fewer bolt threads when the bolt and bolt head engage, they lock so that the bolt head can drive the bolt. The integral connection receptacle can be a pass-through aligned with the internal threads, the pass-through having an internal diameter opening capable of receiving an appendage connector that threads into the internal threads.

The system can include an appendage connector. The appendage connector can be a threaded J-hook or a bolt and a plate. The grid material is a type of wire mesh or other type of mesh.

This invention also provides for a method of installing a roof bolt system in a mine in order to secure a mine roof and to secure appendages to the mine roof. The method includes providing a mine with a roof to be secured. Holes are drilled into the roof. A roof bolt with a bolt head wherein the bolt head can be threaded. The bolt is driven in the holes using the bolt and thereby securing the roof. An appendage can be provided that is attached to the bolt head by a threaded appendage connector. The bolt head can be a removable nut having a stud extending from a side of the bolt head with bolt head threads located internally within the stud. The bolt can have a threaded end that engages the bolt head threads but does not have enough threads to engage all of the bolt head threads.

The appendage connector can be a second bolt and the appendage can be grid material. The grid material can be wire mesh or other type of mesh.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1. is a side view in section of the prior art roof bolt system.

FIG. 2. is a side exploded view in partial section of the novel roof bolt system.

FIG. 3. is a side exploded view in partial section of the novel roof bolt system including a hook.

FIG. 4. is a side exploded view in partial section of the novel roof bolt system including grid material.

FIG. 5. is side exploded view in partial section of the novel roof bolt system including a hook and grid material.

FIG. 6. shows a top and side view of an improved bolt head.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Examples

The following is a list of explanatory non-limiting examples. There is no intention to deviate from the claim terms plain and ordinary meaning and the following list are illustrative examples that are meant to be consistent with the plain and ordinary meaning of the claim terms.

Non-limiting examples of a mine surface include among others a coal mine roof.

Non-limiting examples of a bolt head include among others hex, square, round, flange, socket, eye, J-bolt, shoulder, elevator, flat, oval, pan, truss, round, hex washer, socket cap, button, a removable nut having a stud extending from a side having threads, and any other device that can be used to drive (drive includes spin or spinning) the bolt.

Non-limiting examples of a drive include among others phillips, slotted, hex, square, or anything that can be used to turn the bolt.

Non-limiting examples of an integral connection receptacle include among other internal threads that are part of the bolt head that can be accessed when the bolt head is in place.

Non-limiting examples of a pass through include among others a non threaded opening that allows a threaded object to be inserted and engage threads.

Non-limiting examples of an appendage connector include among others a hex bolt, J bolt and or other types of threaded bolts or devices.

Non-limiting examples of appendages include among others grid materials, machinery parts, monorails, boom arms, conveyors, escape lighting devices (safety), additional roof holding apparatuses (steel or synthetic geo-grid), other materials connected to a mine roof bolt, wood, plastic or metal strapping, and/or hooks to elevate and hold: (i) Cables; (ii) Trolley Wire or Piping; (iii) Tubing; (iv) Reflectors; (v) Tracking devices; or (vi) Electronic devices.

Non-limiting examples of grid materials include among others geo-grid and wire mesh.

FIG. 1 shows a side view of a typical prior art coal mine 2 having a roof 4 with a roof bolt 6. The roof bolt 6 has a roof bolt head 8 and a bearing plate 10. Holes are drilled in the roof 4 and then the roof bolt 6 is driven into the roof 4. Typically, the roof bolt is driven by automatic devices such as a roof bolt machine. FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the prior art roof bolt 6.

FIG. 3 shows a coal mine with a mine roof 104. Bolt 106 is inserted into hole 108. Prior to bolt 106 being inserted into hole 108, removable nut 110 having threads 112 is threaded onto bolt threads 114. Because bolt threads 114 has less threads that the removable nut threads 112, the removable nut 110 fastens with bolt 106 and allows removable nut 112 to drive the bolt 106 by turning when the removable nut 110 is turned. When removable nut or bolt head 110 and bolt 106 are fully inserted into hole 108 they are anchored by anchor mechanism 116. The anchor mechanism is well known to those skilled in the art. When removable nut 110 and bolt 106 are fully inserted, they secure bearing plate 118 to roof 104. If a miner wants to attach an appendage to the roof 104 they can use an appendage connector 120. In this case appendage connector 120 is a threaded bolt with a hook 121 or a J bolt. Appendage connector 120 is inserted into pass-through 122 and then connects with threads 112 to support the appendage connector 120. This is all done without having to take any additional steps or inserting additional holes or supports in the roof 104.

In alternate embodiments it is possible that removable nut 110 is an integral bolt head or welded on to the bolt. In that embodiment there still would be a pass-through 122 and threads 112 for attachment purposes.

FIG. 4 shows removable nut or bolt head 110 and bolt 106 that can work the same way as described above in the description of FIG. 3. However, grid material 124 is added. In this instance appendage connector 126 attaches to removable nut or bolt head 110 and secures plate 128 to the grid material 124 which is held against bearing plate 118 and roof 104. The grid material 124 is designed to hold loose material and debris against the roof.

FIG. 5 shows the removable nut and bolt head 110 with the appendage connector 120 having a hook 121 or a J-bolt.

FIG. 6 shows the removable nut or bolt head 20 having a stud 14 with internal threads 16. The drive mechanism on bolt head 20 is hex side 12.

Various changes could be made in the above construction and method without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the claims below. It is intended that all matter contained in the above description, as shown in the accompanying drawings, shall be interpreted as illustrative and not as a limitation. 

We claim:
 1. A bolt system for use in a mine to anchor a mine surface as well as anchoring appendages to the mine surface comprising: (a) a bolt; (b) a bolt head at one end of the bolt for driving the bolt; and (c) the bolt head having an integral connection receptacle that is capable of receiving and anchoring an appendage connector.
 2. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein: (a) the bolt further includes bolt threads on an end of the bolt; (b) the bolt head further comprises: (i) removable nut having a stud extending from a side of the bolt head having threads that correspond to the bolt threads and connect with the bolt threads in such a manner that the bolt locks with the bolt head so that the bolt head can be used to drive the bolt. (c) the integral connection receptacle comprises threads located on the bolt head.
 3. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein: (a) the bolt further includes bolt threads on only a portion of an end of the bolt; (b) the bolt head further comprises: (i) removable nut having a stud extending from a side of the bolt head having internal threads that correspond to the bolt threads, there are more internal threads than the bolt threads so that the bolt locks with the bolt head when the internal threads reach the end of the bolt threads so that the bolt head can be used to drive the bolt; (c) the integral connection receptacle comprises a pass-through aligned with the internal threads, the pass-through having an internal diameter opening capable of receiving an appendage connector that threads into the internal threads.
 4. The system as recited in claim 3, further including an appendage connector.
 5. The system as recited in claim 4, wherein the appendage connector is a threaded J-hook.
 6. The system as recited in claim 5, wherein the appendage connector is a bolt and a plate that holds grid material.
 7. The system as recited in claim 6, wherein the grid material is wire mesh.
 8. A method of installing a roof bolt system in a mine in order to secure a mine roof and to secure appendages to the mine roof comprising: (a) providing a mine with a roof to be secured; (b) drilling holes in the roof; (c) providing a roof bolt with a bolt head, the bolt head having bolt head threads; (d) driving the bolt into the holes using the bolt and thereby securing the mine roof; (e) providing an appendage; and (f) attaching a threaded appendage connector to the bolt head threads, thereby attaching the appendage to the roof bolt and the roof.
 9. The method as recited in claim 8, wherein the bolt head is a removable nut further comprising a stud extending from a side of the bolt head, the bolt head threads being located internally within the stud and the bolt has a threaded end that engages the bolt head threads but does not have enough threads to engage all of the bolt head threads and locks the bolt head to the bolt so that the bolt head can drive the bolt into place.
 10. The method as recited in claim 9, wherein the appendage connector is a second bolt and the appendage is grid material.
 11. The method as recited in claim 10, wherein the grid material is wire mesh.
 12. The method as recited in claim 10, further including a hook on an end of the second bolt opposite the threaded end of the bolt. 